By Sixtine Tabard - Reading time 5 minsThe childhood cancer ribbon has a gold color. It is the worldwide symbol of hope for children living with cancer. Unlike most awareness ribbons, it stands for every type of childhood cancer rather than a single one.
At Make-A-WishⓇ, that same sense of hope sits at the heart of what we do: granting wishes to children with critical illnesses, including many who are facing cancer. Every wish is a reminder that even in the hardest times, there is still room for joy.
What Color is the Childhood Cancer Ribbon?
The childhood cancer ribbon is gold, and it is the internationally recognised symbol for all childhood cancers.
Gold was chosen because it is a precious metal, reflecting how precious children are. It has since become the internationally recognised symbol for childhood cancer awareness. It is sometimes shown as a warm yellow-gold, which is why some people search for the childhood cancer ribbon color as yellow. Gold is nevertheless the accepted shade, a little deeper and warmer than the yellow used for other awareness causes.
Why Gold? The Meaning Behind the Ribbon
Gold is a precious metal, and it was chosen to reflect how precious children are. The color carries a message of hope, strength, and resilience. This brings hope for better treatments and more tomorrows. This gives strength for the children who face cancer, and resilience for the families beside them.
Where the Gold Ribbon Came From
The gold ribbon grew out of the childhood cancer community itself. In the 1990s, parents and childhood cancer advocates came together to create a shared symbol. The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation is widely credited with establishing gold as that symbol. The first gold ribbon lapel pins were produced in 1997.
What began as a grassroots idea has since become a global symbol. Today it is used by charities, hospitals, and campaigners around the world, and each September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month), cities and landmarks light up gold in support of children with cancer and their families.
One Ribbon for Every Childhood Cancer
Unlike most cancer ribbons, which each stand for a single disease, the gold ribbon represents every form of childhood and adolescent cancer.
Breast cancer has its pink ribbon, and many other cancers have their own color, but childhood cancer covers a wide range of very different diseases, from leukemia to brain tumours. Rather than split attention across dozens of colors, the community chose one gold ribbon to represent all children affected by cancer. It is a symbol of unity as much as of awareness.
Childhood Cancers That Also Carry Their Own Color
Some individual childhood cancers are also shown with their own ribbon color. Two of the most recognised colors and accompanying illnesses are:
- Brain tumours: grey
- Leukaemia: orange
- Kidney cancer (Wilms tumour): orange
- Hodgkin lymphoma: violet
These colors are often used alongside the gold ribbon rather than instead of it, so gold still represents childhood cancer as a whole.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Going Gold
Every September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the time of year when the gold ribbon is most visible. “Going gold” means lighting buildings and landmarks in gold, wearing gold ribbons and clothing, and sharing the stories of children affected by cancer.
Throughout the month, Make-A-Wish International joins this global effort through our Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Every year, we shine a light on the children we support and the hope behind every wish.
How to Show Your Support With the Gold Ribbon
There are many simple ways to show your support with the gold ribbon, from wearing a gold ribbon on your clothes, to sharing the tought.
Wear a gold ribbon or pin, add the symbol to your social media, or light something in a golden color in your home or community. Would you like to do more? You could make a donation to help grant life-changing wishes, or start your own fundraiser and bring your friends, workplace, or school along. Every gesture, big or small, helps children with critical illnesses like cancer feel seen and supported.
How Make-A-Wish Carries the Gold Ribbon Forward
For Make-A-Wish, the gold ribbon reflects something we see every day: the hope that helps children and families keep going. The mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant wishes to children with critical illnesses, many of whom are living with cancer, because a wish can give a child something powerful to look forward to.
Make-A-Wish International works through national affiliates around the world, who grant wishes in their own countries. If you would like to understand the difference a wish makes, our wish impact data shows the effect on children and families, and our wish stories bring the gold ribbon to life through the children behind it.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Childhood Cancer Ribbon
Is the Childhood Cancer Ribbon Gold or Yellow?
The childhood cancer ribbon is gold. It is sometimes depicted as a yellow-gold shade, which can lead to confusion, but gold remains the internationally recognised symbol for childhood cancer awareness.
Can You Wear the Gold Ribbon Outside September?
Of course you can. Although the gold ribbon is most visible during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, you can wear it all year round. Year-round visibility keeps attention on children with cancer beyond a single month and reminds families that support does not stop when September ends.
Where Can You Get a Gold Childhood Cancer Ribbon?
Buy golden ribbons and pins at childhood cancer awareness organisations and different charity shops. Some people prefer to make their own golden ribbon. What matters most is not where your ribbon comes from, but the awareness and support it helps to share.
What is the International Symbol for Childhood Cancer?
The golden ribbon is the international symbol for childhood cancer. It is recognised across countries as a sign of hope and solidarity. It represents all forms of childhood and adolescent cancer, along with the children and families affected by them.